Compare towns
Webster vs Surry vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Webster | Surry | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Highest |
1,052Lowest |
1,595 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$101,696±$8kLowest about the NH average |
| Surry and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Webster and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,500±$293 about the NH average |
| Surry and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 10% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$5,504Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.